bland



SHEEP SHEABS.

(Application led Sept 21, 1897.)

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No. 6 I4,078. Patented Nnv. I5, |898.

H. BLAND.

SHEEP SHEAHS.

(Application led Sept. 21, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/ T/VE SSE S.' N vVE N TOH A TTOHNEYS nf: Nunms rrrsns co.. mom-Ub40.. wAsHlNnToN n c No. 614,078. Patented Nov. l5, |898. H. BLAND.

SHEEP SHE'ARS.

(Appucatim med sept. 21, m97.) (N o M o d e l.)

3 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

W/T/VESSES.' /N VEA/Tof? BY g A TTOHNE YS me Nonms mns co.. Haro-umu.. wAsmNGToN. n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT EETCE.

HENRY ELAND, or WAvEELY, NEW SOUTH WALES, ASSIGNOE To JAMES MARTIN, or SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.

SHEEP-SHEARS.-

srcIFIcATIoN forming para of Letters Patent No. 614,078, dated November 15, 1898.

` Application led September 2l, 1397 Serial No. 652,460. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BLAND, a subject of the Queen of Great-.Britain and Ireland, residing at Ashley street, Waverly, near Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Shears, (for which I have obtained patentsin New South Wales, No. 6,749, bearing date July 2S, 1896; in Queensland, June 16, 1897, No. 3,508, and in Victoria, No. 13,442, dated August 29, 1896,) of which the following is a speciication.

The objects of my invention are to provide improvements in sheep-shears.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

I will now proceed more particularly to describe my invention, which the accompanying drawings will illustrate, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a Sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan with the front cover removed, the rear portion in section broken away around the slide. Fig. 3 is a section on line A A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of the piston-slide. Fig. 5 is a section of the same through line B B, Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a side view of case, showing the beds of the slide; Fig. 7, improvements in the roller-tension. Fig. 8 is a back end view of the port-face, slide, connecting-rod, and governing-wheel; Fig. 9, a side view of the valve, showing spurs; Fig. l0, a view of the mechanical starter with the connectingrod and crank indierent positions; Fig. ll, an elevation of the piston; Fig. 12, a central section of same; Fig. 13, a plan of keepspring before it is folded.

a is the emission-port shown in Figs. 1 and 2; a', muffle-plate shown in Fig. 1; a2, airpassages shown in Fig. 3; a3, Webs at side of lever-stud shown in Fig. 2.

b is the finger-spring shown in Fig. 1; b', its conical screw and seating; b2, its rivet.

b3 is cutter-driver; c, the tension-bar shown in Fig. 7; c', the position-pin; c2, slots in wings of` rocker.

c3 is the rocker.

d is the keep-spring shown in Figs. 1 and 13; d', its holding-pin; d2, its locking-tooth.

d3 is the tubular nut.

d4 and d5 are the adjusting-screw and tubular stud.

e is the piston shown in Figs. 1, 2, 11, and 12; e', the lever-joint; e2, the piston-ring; e3, its iianges; e4, its central rivets.

f is the piston-slide shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4e, and 8; f', its coupling-feather; f2, the connecting-rod, Figs. 2, 8, and 10; g, the governing-wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 8; g', its crank and spindle, Figs. 12, 8, and 10; g2 and g3, steel bearings; g4, its eccentric; g5, eccentric-sleeve; g", the wheel-cover.

h is the port-plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6.

j is the valve Shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9; j', its driving-spurs.

lo is the air-chest cover shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6.

7c' is the recess for flange of air-joint.

Z is the mechanical starter shown in Figs. 2`and 10.

The particular kind of motor that I prefer to use to operate the actuating-lever G in this combination is the early type (known as the cross-cylinder, whose power is applied direct to the operating or rear end of the actuating-lever) consisting of a pair of single-acting cylinders, whose pistons, being connected by a bridge-piece, are situated one on each side of the lever.

In the space between my cylinders at the rear of actuating-lever G, I place vertically a steel bearing g3, Fig. 1, which -I will hereinafter call the lower bearing. This carries the lower end of my crank-spindle, the governing-Wheel g, Figs. 1 and 8, being situated just above the cylinders. Its upper end is also carried in a similar steel bearing g2, Fig. 1, placed in the wheel-cover, which I shall hereinafter call the upper bearing. This crank-spindle g', Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 10, rotates within the port-plate on the cylinder side and carries upon its body an eccentric g4, Figs. 1, 2, and 8, to operate the valve. My valve j, Figs. 1, 2, and 9, is of a peculiar kind, being provided at its center with two steel spurs jf,

Figs. -2 and 9, that project from its inner face' through a slot in they port-plate aforesaid.

IOO

These spurs embrace a loose sleeve g5, Figs. l and 2, that fits upon the eccentric, receiving motion therefrom as the spindle rotates, moving the valve without the usual connection through the air-chest, the lnotion being thus quite sealed from the air-pressure.

The peculiar slidef, Figs. l, 2, 4, and 8, that I use is flat in form and slides in two horizontal grooves, Fig. 6, one on the cylinder side, the other situate in the air-chest cover. This slide is slotted at its center, Figs. 2 and 4, so as to surround the crankspindle and is equal in length to the crankstroke. Attached crosswise at its center on the cylinder side is a feather, Figs. l, 4, and 5, descending a suitable distance into the bore of cylinder to engage a slot provided to receive it near the center of connecting bridgepiece, Fig. ll. Thus it will be obvious that as the pistons are alternatelypropelled from side to side they must carry this slide with them, and in its motion it becomes, as it were, part of the pistons, although sliding outside the cylinder-bore. At one extreme end of this slide I place a suitable steel bearing to receive the pin of connecting-rod, Figs. 2 and 4. The other end of this rod embraces the crank. Both the crank and connecting-rod fit into a recess in the governing-wheel and are securely attached to said wheel by a nut on its upper side. Thus the governing-wheel receives its motion direct from the slide, which is operated by the pistons and efficiently controls their motion by preventing knocking at the cylinder ends, also preventing the loss of time, as heretofore, at the ends of their stroke andinsuring a steady even Inotion, capable of very high speed, as the momentum received from the pistons at the instant of their greatest acceleration is available at the ends of their stroke, efficiently controlling and starting their return, permitting the fullest power development, less only the slight friction of the moving slide. The very small space occupied by this thin slide, connecting-rod, and crank renders it a most compact and durable motion.

My reliance finger-spring b, Fig. l, is provided with a novel adjustment. The finger-spring is carried in the recess of cutterdriver similar to my Letters Patent No. 6,741), dated July 2S, 1896, but is much longer. At the extreme rear end I rivet it firmly to the cutter-drhrer. About midway from this rivet to the toe of spring I provide a screwed hole. Into this I fit a screw of peculiar form b, Figs. l and 2, rising from the square shoulder. Next to the spring is a short conical portion or body. The head from this portion is continued sufficiently for the usual nick for turn-screw.

In the body of the cutter-driver a corresponding conical seating is formed, the screw being placed in the screwed hole in the spring, which fits the curvature of the grooved bed in the cutter-driver and is riveted at the rear end. The tension of this rivet presses the conical body of the screw into the seating, so that when a greater degree of tension is required it is slightly unscrewed from the spring, thence pressing down the toe upon the cutter, while the conical head is pressed more firmly into its seating. Thusit is held firmly from turning in either direction, and as it is contained within the recess it cannot become detached while the spring remains riveted and intact. Although so easy of adjustment, it is very reliable.

My improved keep-spring d, Figs. l and 13, has a circular base fitting the cover of machine, with a small hole to fit over a holdingpin to prevent it turning. At the center of this base a hole is provided for the passage of the tension or adjusting screw, the shoulder of screw bearing upon it. The upper portion is folded over and is provided with a larger hole, through which the shoulder of thumb-screw freely passes. The front p0rtion extends sufficiently forward and is turned down just behind the rocker-cap. This gives facility for its release by the pressure of the thumb or finger. At one side of this projection a tooth or catch is formed d2,Figs. l and 13, and turned upward so as to engage a series of ratchet-teeth formed upon the under side of the head of tension-screw, so that as the tension screw is screwed downward this spring engages its teeth and securely locks or prevents its running back except when released.

My improved piston c, Figs. l, 2, 1l, and 12, is designed to give the greatest strength per weight of metal and to provide facility for placing the rings without springing on, and is formed as follows The fianges are connected by a bridge-piece of peculiar form. At its center is a square frame to receive the joint of actuating-lever, permitting freedom of adjustment therein, while giving t-he best wearing-surfaces. The flanges are connected to this by semicircular pieces, which facilitate the use of a central rivet e4, Fig. 2, in each flange to attach a washer after the rings are placed in position. This gives a piston of a durable and more perfect form. The groove to receive the featherof slide is placed centrally, Fig. 1l, and above the square framing hereinbefore referred to.

Myim proved muffle-plate ct', Fig.l, isplaced at the front end of machine-case, the rear portion of case being closed. The exhaustair is directed downward by a web a, Fig. 2, at each side of the stud of actuating-lever and open only at the bottom a2, Fig. 3. From thence it passes under this thin plate that fits into the front part of case to a passage formed between the comb-screws, this being the emission-port a, Figs. l and 2, so that the blow of the air is wholly concentrated upon and under the heel of cutter and upon the comb, keeping them much cooler than heretofore, while the surplus oil that passes away in spray will be made available to lubricate the cutter and comb much better than here- IOO IIO

tofore, and the noise of escaping air is very much deadened or subdued.

The construction of my improved tension is as follows: I place in the upper part of case a suitably-supported round steel bar, which I will hereinafter call the tension-bar c. This bar carries at its center a crossway tooth or pin c'. Below this tension-bar is placed a segmental rocker o3, provided with a semicircular grooved or bifurcated'ed ge corresponding to and fitting the bar. In the wings of this rocker slots c2 are formed to receive the positionaltooth, (or pin if preferred,) which maintains it in correct position longitudinally upon the bar and permits it to roll freely sidewise to the recession-curve without other support. It receives its adjustment in the following manner: The tail end of the cutter-driver extends rearward to the center bolt or pivot of the actuating-lever G. A nut d3 fits within this bolt, which is tubular. These are both, together with the boss of the actuating-lever, slotted upon the front side, so as to permit the tail end of cutterdriver to be passed into the axial center. This tail end is formed hemispherical and fits into a corresponding cup formed in the bottom of nut d3. The upper part of lthis nut is screwed internally, and into this is fitted a thumb-screw, the .shoulder of which rests upon the keep-spring on top of case hereinbefore described. Whenthe nut d" is raised by turning the thumb-screw, the tail of cutter-driver is drawn upward, the rocker receiving the pressure and transferring it to the resistance-bar, which becomes the fulcrum of this tension, the cutter-driver therefrom pressing down the cutter upon the comb to they necessary degree of tension as may be desired.

The mechanical starter Z, Fig. 10, I place at the rear of the machine immediately under the governing-wheel. In form it is similar to a bell-crank lever, having as its fulcrum a long stem which is riveted therein. This stem fits in a small socket provided on the outside of air-chest. The center of this socket coincides with the circle of the wheelcover. The long arm of the bell-crank lever being equal in thickness to the arm of connecting-rod, it operates under the wheel in the same space. The outside arm of lever is broadened at the end for the thumb-rest.

Its operation is as follows, (see Fig. 10, where the crank g is shown in different positions, two being straight with the moving slide, the crank being shown upon its cen-v ters z)- When the starter is pressed in by the thumb, its inside limb will push the crank over to starting position g', and as soon as the thumb is withdrawn it [lies back to clear by the action of a suitable spring. (Not shown.) This I prefer should be done (wheny the machine stops upon its center) before the air is .turned on. In other styles of machines this difficulty is only partially overcome by pushing the cutter over the comb.

Previously it was often necessary to apply blows to start the crank over its center.

Some pf these improvements are applicable to'steam or other power-driven machines, the automatic oiler, and the universal air-joint; to other styles of compressed-air machines; also to any intermittent pneumatic or elastic Huid-driven machines, such as rock-drills, coal-cutters, and in gunnery, where the pressure is supplied by means of rubber hose,` and to these extended purposes I claim their use.

Having now particularly described and explained the nature and advantages of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is- 1. In combination, the frame or casing, the cylinder arranged transversely thereof, the actuating-lever pivotedv in the casing,rthe cutting mechanism operatively connected with said lever, the piston moving in said cylinder and having a connection with said rocking lever, the governing-wheel journaled above the piston, and the pitman connected With the governing-wheel and piston, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the frame or casing the transversely-arranged cylinder, the cutting mechanism, the actuating-lever pivoted in the casing and operatively connected with the cutting mechanism,the piston connected with the actuating-lever,the crank-shaft journaled in rear of the cylinder, the governing-wheel carried on the said shaft, the sliding plate connected with the piston and moving therewith, and the pitman connected to said plate and to the crank-shaft, substantially as described.

3. In combinatiomthe casing the transverse cylinder, the cutting mechanism, the actuating-lever for operating the same, the piston connected with the lever, the governing-wheel the pitman connected with the governingwheel and piston, and the bell-crank startin glever pivoted in the casing and adapted to contact with said pitman to push it into starting position, substantially as described.

4. In combination,the casin g the transverse cylinder, the cutting mechanism, the actuating-lever, the piston connected therewith, exhaust-ports opening from said cylinder into the forward portion of the casing, and the munie-plate located in the forward portion of the casing beneath the rocking lever, substantially as described.

5. In combination,the casing the transverse cylinder at the rear end, the cutting mechanism, the actuating-lever, the cutter-driver located above the actuating-lever, the cylinder connected with the rear end of the actuatinglever, the spring-finger having its rear end riveted to the under side of the cutter-driver, and the adj usting-screw threaded into said spring and having a conical head engaging a conical recess in the under side of the cutterdriver, the slotted portion of said head pro- IIO G. In combination,the casing,the actuatinglever pivoted therein, with means for operating the same, the tubular nut located at the axis of said actuating-lever, the set-screw for 5 adjusting said nut, the cutter-driver having its rear end pivotally supported in a recess in said nut, and the rocking support for said cutter-driver in advance of said pivotal connection comprising the rocker having a rounded Io lower end bearing resting in a socket in the cutter-driver, and having a bifurcated upper end, and the tension-bar located in said slotted portion and having a transverse positionpin resting in slots in the upper edges of the I5 rocker, substantially as described. 

